Lock for spring switches



March 1, 1932. .1. A. PEABODY 1,847,894

LOCK FOR SPRING SWITCHES Filed July 2, 1950 FIG. 1.

I Q UIS VENT -a\ BY [Z ATTOR'NEY Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED. STATESJAMES A. innnonimr nvnns'romrrmnors LOOK, FOR srnnve. swrronnsApplication med, aul 2,1936. Serial no. 465,305.

This invention relates to looks for spring switches. I p

One object of the inventionis to provide'a lock for holding a springswitch inits normal ,5 position,iand to prevent the clearing of a signalgoverning train movements in a facing direct-ionover the switch unless.the lock is effective.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide for releasing such "alock for'spring switches to permit a trailing train movement, byemploying a manually operable means whichwill permit the lockto'becomeautomatically effective after the train has passed.

' a track section 4, which may or may not be used, 65

over the switch.

Other objects, characteristic features, and advantages of the inventionwill bein part apparent, and in part pointed out, as the de-" scriptionprogresses. I In the accompanying drawings, Fig." 1 illustrates in adiagrammatic and conventional manner one embodiment of theinventionapplied to a-spring switch at one end of a pass'-' .ing siding,the parts and circuits being shown more for the purpose of making iteasy-to understand the nature ofthe invention, than with the idea ofillustrating the particular arrangement and construction preferablyemployed in practice; and V V Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary viewsshowing'difterent positions of the switch lock.

The invention has been shown applied to a spring switch at one end of a.passing siding- .for a single track railroad, which is assumed to beequipped with a block signaling system' of the absolute-permissive-blocktype, such as disclosed, for example, in the patent to S. N.

ight, No. 1,294,736, dated February 18, 1919. No attempt has been madeto show the 0 complete circuits for such an A. P. B. system, therehaving been illustrated in Fig.1 only some of the signal controlcircuitsmore directly related to this invention.

The spring switch SW,to whichthe invention has been shown as applied, isof the usual construction, with a front rod F, towhich is connected aspring and dash potmechanism S. The construction of this spring and dashpotmecha'nism S forms no part of the present'inventiom'and is shown"conventionally.

This mechanism S is of the usual well-known construction, and acts, in amanner familiar to those skilled in the art, to move the switch pointsto the normal or main-track position. l/Vhen the switch points aretrailed, and moved by the wheels to the reverse position, the dash potmeans serves to retard the re turn movement of the switch points 7 Thetrack is divided into track circuit sections in the-usual way, eachhaving a track battery, and a track relay. The track section- 3,adjacent the switch SW, extends back to the fouling point on the siding,the track rails being cross bonded in the usual way. The

as desired, is at short tracksection extending back from the foulingpoint along the siding,

so as tobe occupied by the head end of a trainstanding'on the sidingback of the foul: ingpoint. The track section 2 is also a short tracksection, approximately 800 feet long, between the absolute startingsignal 5 and the permissive approach signal 6, governing traffic fromand toward the siding respectively. This track section 2 may be omitted,and the starting signal ,5 andapproach signal 6-10- cated opposite eachother.

The circuits for controlling the absolute starting signal 5, being ofthe usual arrangement for an A. P. 13. system, are not shown. 30 Theapproach signal 6, which is'shown as a semaphore signal, but which inaybe a colorlight signal, or any other suitable type, is controlled by aline or signal relay 6HD. In

the formshown, this line relay 6HD is of the neutral polar type, andcontrols the signal 6 in the usual way through a neutral contact and apolar contact 8.

The signal 6 operates a circuit controller 9, shown conventionally,closed in the clear 99 and caution positions of the signal, and openedin the stop position. This circuit controller 9 is included in anenergizing circuit (only partially shown) for .a' pole changing relayPC, which controls the polarity of the current supplied to the linecircuit (only partially shown) extending to the signal (not shown) nextin the rear of the signal 6 and governing traffic in the same direction.When the signal'6 is in the stop position, the circuit controller 9 isopen and de-energizes the relay PC, which reverses the polarity ofenergization of the line circuit to the signal next in the rear andcauses that signal to indicate caution. The patent to S. N. Wight, No.1,294,736, above mentioned, may be referred to for further details ofthe signalingcircuits.

Considering now the lock for the spring switch SWV, more particularlyconstituting the subject matter of thisinvention, a lccle rod LR isconnected to the frontrod F of the switch SlV in the usual way;andisprovided with a hole to receive a lock bolt or plunger LP, when theswitch points are in fixed thereto a weight 11; and the upper end of thelink 10 is curved and pivotally connected:to a lock plate 12'. This lockplate 12 is fixed to a shaft 13, supported in suit ablelbearings andhaving fastened thereto an operating crankorhandle 14. The shait13(indicated in partbydash lines) operates circuit controller drums orsegments 15 and 16, co-operating with pairs ofcontactfingers 17 and18,'said circuit-controller drums having insulated portions, so asto-break the cir cuits through the contact fingers 17 and 18 in certainpositionsoi the shaft. 1

A=lockplate-12is formed with a-shoulder 12 for co-operating. with a lockdog 19 car- 'ried bythe pivoted-armature 20 of an electro-niagnet 21.This lock dog 19 is preferably arranged so that it can be released byhand, if necessary;

These parts of the lock are'supported and housedin a suitable casing, inthe manner shown, for example, in thepatent to J. E. Stephenson abovementioned; andthe door 22: (showndiagrammatically) for this casing,giving access to the handle 14, is providedwith the usual haspand'padlock, and

is also formed witharecess 22 or provided with equivalent lugs or thelike, so that the door cannot be closed'and locked, unless the handle liisin the positions shown in Figs. land 3.

Whenthe lock and plunger LP is in the 7 hole of the lockrod LR, and thuslocks the spring switch SWV in its norma-lposition, the

parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 1. Under these conditions, therelay 6H1), controlling the signal 6, may be energized over i a circuit,which may traced from C (indicating aconnection to a common return wire)relay (SI-ID, wire 23, front'contact-24eof track relay T 2, wire 25,frontcontact 26' of track relay T3, wire 27, contacts 28 of the usualswitch circuit controller connected to the switch points of the switchSW, wire 29, contact fingers 17, wire 30, and thence through variousother controlling contacts (not shown), to B (indicating a connection toa suitable source of current connected-to the common return; wire). v 4

Thus, if the switch SW is locked, the approach signal 6 may clear.

If; for anynreason, the locking plunger LP does not fully enter the holeof the lock rod LR,-the'lock"p-late.12 is displaced from the positionshownin Fig.1 sufficiently to open the circuitfor' the relay 6HD at thecontact 'fingers =17. Gonsequent'ly, iftlIeSWltClI-SW is'not properlylocked, the signal 6 is held-in the stop position, andithe signalnext-in. the rear (not-shown) 1 indicates caution.

Before a (train can .trailithe spring switch. SWV, the lock must bedisengaged..- Considering antraingmovementofi' of the siding, the

trainman goes to the switch, unlocks'and opens the. door 22, andmovesthe handle 14 counter-clockwise from the position shown in Fig, 1 to theposition shown in. F-ig. 2, disengaging thelocking plu-nger'LP from theiOck-rOd-LR: In this eXtreme un-locked position ofzthe handle 14,theu-pper end of the link 10 is moved beyond thedead'central position,as shown in Fig.1 2, so thatthe handle 14:"I168di'110h be held toholdup-tire weight. In order that-the trainmanmay know whether or notany train'isapproaching, a switch indicator SI is preferablyf used. Thisswitchindicator SI is-control-led in accordance withestablished"practice,.in the manner suchas shown for example, inithe patent to S..N. Wight, No. 1,224,111 dated:

April 24, 1917.

This I movement of the handle 14 i and shaft 13 tothe unlockedpositionshifts the ci-rcuit controller drum 16 to connectthe contact fingers 18,which are included in" an energizing circuit-for the electro-ma'gnet'21whichanay be-Ttraced fro1n (indicating a connection to. one terminalofasuitable loca l'battery), electro-mag-net 21, wire 31, contactfinge-rslS, wire 82, front contact 33' of track relay T4, wire 35', frontcontact-36 of track rela-y- T.-3, to v Assuming the use ofthe shorttrack sec:- tion 1,;thepresenceofthehead end of th'e train standing onthe siding shunts the track relay T4, and opens-theenergizing circuitfor the electro-Inagnet 21, so that the lock dog 19 is-in the. position,as sho'wnin Fig. 2,.

to engage the locking shoulder'12 Ifthe track circuit section 4:" is.not used, as soon as the train moves into the. track circuit section 3,.and' shuntsthe track relay T3,

the energizing circuit for the electro-magnet 21 .is' brokeniat thefront contact 36:.

In eitherlcase, the trainman may I set the handle liandthe plategl2itothe. position idthe switch.

shown in 3, where the upper end ofthe link 10 is not on dead center, andthe weight ll'tends to move the lock plunger LP down into its lockingposition, this movement being prevented by theengagementlof the lock dog19 with the shoulder 12 r The trainman may now close and. lockthe door22; and

after the train has cleared the switch SW,

, the electro-magnet 21 isenergized, and rehole in the lock rod LRand'lock the switch 1 5 points in .this position. If the switch SIVshould not be locked up automatically in this way, the signal 6 cannotclear, as above explained.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a 6 simple and eflicient manuallyoperable lock for a sprlng swltch is provided by thls 1n-, vention,which permits train movementsln the facing direction safe'lyat normalrunning speeds, since the switch points must be s'positively locked in.the normal position be,-

fore the signal 6 can be cleared for such train movements. Also, thelock for the spring switch may be easily unlocked manually, when it isnecessary to trail the switch.

6 After such manual unlocking, the trainman does not have to wait untilthe train has cleared the switch and then manually lock up the switchagain, butmay condition the locking device so that it will be automatigfcally looked as soon as the train has cleared the. switch. This makesit unnecessary for the train to slow down or stop, after having clearedthe switch, in order that the trainman may get aboard after havinglocked up The spring switch SVVis preferablyprovided with theusu'alhand-throw device or" switch stand 40, so that the switch points may bereversed to permit a trainto enter is; the siding.

The specific construction and arrangement of parts and circuits,.diagrammatically il-.

lustrated in the accompanying drawings, represents merely one typicalembodiment 56 01 the invention; and various additions,

modlfications, and adaptations may be'made in this specific embodiment,without departing from the invention;

What I claim is 1. In a locking device for railway spring switches, thecombination with the movable switch points of a track switch, springmeans tending to move said switch points to the normal position, asignal governing train 6H movement in the facing direction over saidtrolled means forholding' said lock in its unlocked position inopposition to its bias,

andmeans preventing clearing. of saidsigv nal while said lock isunlocked.

2. Ina locking device forrailway spring switches, the combination'withthemovable switch points of a track switch, spring means tending to movesaid switch .points to the normal position,a lock rod connected to said1 switchpoints, a locking plunger for locking saidlock rod in theposition corresponding to the normal position of the switch points,means tending to move said locking plunger to its locked position,electrically operable means for holding said locking plunger in itsunlocked position, a circuit controller connected to said lockingplunger and 1 closed only if said plunger is in its looking position,manual means for moving said locking plunger to its unlocked position, asignal governing traffic in the facin direction over said switch, and acontrolling circuit for said signal including said circuit controller.

switches, the combination with the movable switch points of a trackswitch, spring means tending to move said switch points to the normalposition, a manually controllable lock for holding said switch points intheir normal position, said lock being biased to assume its lockingposition, and track circuit controlled means for retaining said lock inits unlocked position in opposition to its bias while a train is passingover the switch.

4. In a lockingdevice for railway spring switches, the combination withthe movable switch points of a track switch, spring means tending tomove said switch points to the normal position, a lock biased to assumeits locking position for positivelylocking said switch points in theirnormal position, a locking electro magnet acting when de-energized tohold said lock in its unlocked position, and a track circuit adjacentthe switch for controlling said electro-magnet to permit energizationthereof when said track circuit is not occupied.

5. In a locking device for railway spring switches, the combination withthe movable switch points of a track switch, spring means tending to.move said switch points to the normal position, 'aplunger lock biased toas- In-a locking device for railway spring sume its locking position forholding said 7 switch points in -their normal position,'electricallyoperated means for holding said lock in its unlocked position inopposition to its bias, and circuit controlling means operated by saidlockfor controlling the energization of said electrically operablemeans.

6. Ina locking device for railway spring switches,'the combination withthe movable switch points of a track switch, spring means tending tomove said switch points to the normal position, a lock-rod connecting tothe switch points, a weighted locking-plunger en gageablewith-said lockrod to locksaid switch points in their normal position, a

track circuit adjacent the switch, and 'electricallyoperableimeanscontrolled by said 'track.circuit means and bythe positionofsaidlocking-plunger for holding said lockinggplunger. in its raisedunlockedwposition;

7! Apparatus for governing'the movable switch points of;a track switchfor railroads comprising, a lock rod connected to the. switch points,a-manually operable locking-plunger engageable-with said lockrod to lockthe. swltch points-1n one extreme-position, andelectrically releasablemeans for holding said locking plunger-1n its unlocked positlon afterit-has: been manually, moved to that position.

8:.A: protective device for track switches on railroads comprising, alock rod connected t0 the switch-points, a locking plunger biased toassume its-locking. position and engageable with said lock rod only whensaid switch points are in the normal position for locking saidswitch-points against movement, and an electrically releasable lockingdevice for holding said lockingplunger in its unlocked position inoppositionto its bias.

'9; Ina device ofthe character described, a lock rod adapted to beconnected to the movable switch points of a track switch, a lockingplunger adapted'to enter. a hole in said lock rod when said switchpoints are in one eartreme-positionand thereby lock said switchpointswagainst movement, means tending tomove said locking plunger toits locking position, manually operable means for moving said lockingplunger to its unlocked posltion,

and an electric lock for holding said locking plunger in itsunlockedposition after it has been manually moved to that position.

10; In a safety device for track switches on railroads',.aplunger lockbiased to assume a locking position for lockin the switch points in anormal position, manually operable uneans-for shifting said plunger lockto its unlocked position,'an electric lock for preswitch points,.a:manually operable locking plunger engageable with said lock rod to lock'isaid switch points only in the normal position, alockingdevice forpreventing movementof said plunger to its lockedposition, andelectrically :operab-le means for releasing said locking. device;

12.. A-lockingidevice for track-switches on railroads i comprising,alock rod adapted to be'connected to the switch points, a manuallymovable locking plunger co-operating with said lockrod, only when theswitch points are in the normal position-to hold'said switch pointsagainst'movement, means tending to move said locking plunger toits'locking position, and-track circuit controlled means for positivelypreventing movementof said lock.-

ing plunger to its-locking position'while. a

train is ,passingover the switch.

13'; A: lockingdevice for track switches on railroadscomprising-a lockrod adapted to be connected' to the switch'points, a locking plunger.for locking said lock rod against:

movement only in one extreme positioncorresponding to the normalposition of the switch points, biasing means tending to move saidplungerto its locked position, manually operable -means capable of moving saidplunger to an unlocked position in which it is'held-or to. anunlockedposition in. which said biasing means is effective, and an elec. triclock for positively preventing movement of said-locking plunger to its.locking position; 1

14. Apparatus for .governing the movement of trackswitches on railroadscomprising, a lock rod adaptedto be oonnectedto theswitch points, amanually operable mechanical locking device positively holding said lockrod in. one extreme position, means tending to move said locking. deviceto its locking position, an electric lock acting when de-energized toprevent'said locking device assuming its locking position, and circuitcontrolling meansincluded in the energizing circuit forsaidelectric'lock and closed only if said looking device is in itsunlocked position.

15. A safety device for track switches-on.

railroads comprising, in combination with spring means adapted to beconnected to the switch points and capable ofmoving said switch pointsto one extreme position unless otherwise restrained against movement, amechanical lock for positively holding the switch points in said extremeposition, manually operable means iior releasing saidlock, electricallyoperable-means acting when deenergizedto prevent said lock assuming itslocking'position'after having been manually unlocked, anda circuitcontroller included in the energizing circuit for said electricallyoperable means and closed only when said lock is in its unlockedcondition.

161A safety device for'track switches on railroads comprising, a lockrod adapted to be connected-to the switch points, a locking plungerengageable with said lock rod in one extreme position only to lock theswitch points against movement, biasing means tending to move saidplunger to its locking position, electrically operable means for holdingsaidplun-gerin its unlockedposition in opposition to :saidibiasingmeans,manually openable means for moving said locking plunger into position tobe held by said electrically operable means, circuit controllingcontacts operated in accordance with the position of said plunger, atrack circuit adjacent the switch and having a track relay, and acontrol circuit for said electrically operable means governed by saidcontacts and by said track relay.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES A. PEABODY.

